The entire Adams family, including the parents and two daughters, shares a diagnosis of dwarfism, but this doesn’t hinder them from embracing life fully and even managing popular blogs.
Dwarfism is a short stature that results from a genetic or a medical condition. People with dwarfism often face discrimination and dejection from society. In recent times, however, people suffering from this condition are sharing their life stories to combat the biases against it. One of them is the Australian couple Charli and Cullen, who tied the nuptial knot in 2012. Charli, an Australian woman, has been suffering from
Achondroplasia, the most common type of dwarfism. Cullen is suffering from achromic dysplasia, a condition that hinders his physical growth. The duo wanted to embrace parenthood, but were advised by the doctors against it. As per the doctors, there was a 25 percent likelihood of having a child with a similar condition, and an equal chance of a child not surviving.
Nonetheless, in 2015, Charli became pregnant for the first time. They embraced parenthood with their baby girl named Tilba. She is expecting again in 2018 and conceived for the third time in 2020. Two of the three children inherited their medical condition. The third born, however, didn’t inherit the distinctive traits of the parents.
Charli Worgan, 27 – who is just 4ft 2in – decided to set up an Instagram account to document their adventures in 2013 which has now attracted thousands of followers across the world.
After marrying her husband, Cullen Adams – who slightly taller at 4ft 6in – and welcoming their first child, Tilba, they’ve been inundated with comments online – most of them positive.
Ms Worgan, from Sydney, Australia, said: ‘We might all have dwarfism but our lives are full of fun and happiness.
‘I like to post photos of us enjoying ourselves as much as possible and before falling pregnant, I was also into my fitness.
‘There’s no limit to what we can do together and we love nothing more than enjoying lunch and days out in the sunshine.”I don’t take my height too seriously’
The business development manager said she also posts photos that show a the sometimes comical side of things when it comes to their height, such as oversized clothes, or general day to day activities that are made a bit more tricky.
‘I don’t take my height too seriously but am always respectful of the short statued community when doing so,’ she explained.
She says their posts do receive nasty comments but she has learnt to rise above them.
‘Everyone loves seeing family photos of us and we always receive such lovely comments from most people,’ she said.
‘We do get some negative people but when you put yourself out there you do half expect it.
Potential health problems of children
The couple tied the knot last May after meeting at a World Dwarf Games team Australia training camp in 2012.
Ms Worgan fell pregnant with Tilba without even trying – but then they faced an anxious wait for genetic test results to see if their baby would be. She has achondroplasia, the most common type of dwarfism. Her husband, 38, has geleophysic dysplasia, a rarer form which can cause more health complications.
Recently, Charlie announced that they are expecting a son, and after a thorough examination, it was revealed that the baby will not inherit the parents’ genetic conditions and will grow up with a typical height.
Charlie and Cullen, the parents, each have different forms of genetic conditions—Charlie with achondroplasia, characterized by short arms and a normal-sized torso, and Cullen with heleophilic dysplasia, resulting in a relatively proportionate build.
Despite their unique characteristics, the family is content and happy. Charlie, in particular, actively maintains an online presence and even pursues bodybuilding, engaging in weightlifting during her third pregnancy.
The family’s positive outlook extends to their ability to cope with occasional tactless comments or gestures from others.
Doctors have told them their children have four potential outcomes: a baby could have her type of dwarfism, his form, it could have been average-sized or if it had both forms of dwarfism this could prove fatal.
It was good news – Tilba has achondroplasia, like Ms Worgan’s mother and brother (her father is average-sized). Medics warned she could have spinal issues, but otherwise should live a healthy life.
Ms Worgan explained: ‘Our children could have inherited both forms which generally results in a fatal outcome. We had genetic testing done in early pregnancy so we could find this out.
‘We also had a one in four chance of having an average height baby or it having mine or Cullen’s type of dwarfism. ‘Our next baby, which we don’t yet know the sex of, will have Cullen’s type, which can carry more respiratory problems whereas mine is more skeletal.’
Living life to the full
Ms Worgan says she and her husband live life to the max and praised their strong willed parents for their success. ‘We haven’t yet experienced many problems related to our conditions and always ensure we keep ourselves fit and strong by working out in the gym or at home.
‘We both have parents who have a no excuse policy, yet have always been supportive and we’ve never allowed our dwarfism to be an excuse for not doing well.
‘My dad is of average height but my mum is short, I wasn’t formally diagnosed with dwarfism until 2015 when I was pregnant with Tilba.
‘Before this we knew I had dwarfism but not exactly what type.
‘Cullen owns his own business, I work for a major telco and we’re about to celebrate the birth of our second baby, life couldn’t be better.
‘I have just started my maternity leave and our baby will be born via caesarean.
‘Our aim with our Instagram page is to reach out to other people and show them that having dwarfism doesn’t need to hold you back.’
Overall, they express contentment and joy in their lives, emphasizing that their distinctive features do not impede their happiness.